The U.S. bathroom partition market size was estimated to be over USD 400 million in 2016. The market in the U.S. is currently influenced by the Leadership in Energy, and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings as per the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) rules to meet the sustainability goals.

U.S. bathroom partition market, by revenue, 2014 - 2026 (USD Million)

The growth of the green building sector is expected to fuel the market over the forecast period. New standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council together with Restroom Access Act is projected to thrive the market growth and enhancing the competition among various manufacturers for more innovative and sustainable product.

Over the past few years, rising consumer demand for more privacy in restrooms, particularly in commercial spaces such as gyms and airports, has resulted in an evolution in the design of the panels used.

A standard bathroom stall is 12 inches above the ground. However, rising demand for more privacy in public spaces has resulted in manufacturers supplying longer panels. For instance, the length of a normal bathroom door has increased from 58 inches to 72 inches covering the stall from ceiling to ground. Additionally, the minimization of gaps between stalls is expected to augment the demand for materials that can fill gaps.

Washroom facilities have been undergoing an evolution in the U.S. particularly in universities and commercial offices. Laws have been proposed and implemented keeping in mind transgender individuals as well, which have brought a change in screens that provide more privacy and safety.

The material selection for bathrooms is critical as these need to be cleaned at regular intervals. Ideally, the materials selected should not react with water or cleaning chemicals which may affect their performance and aesthetics. Moreover, these surfaces are prone to stains. Thus, over the past few years, metals and polymers have increasingly replaced traditional materials such as wood.

Over the years, usage of materials that are cost-effective and consume less space have seen increasing adoption in this space. Moreover, the maintenance and replacement cost of traditional building materials such as bricks and cement is much higher than the new ones. Therefore, manufacturers are increasingly using cost-effective, lightweight and durable solutions made of metal and non-metal in bathrooms.

Segmentation by Material• Metals• Non-metals

Metals were extensively used as washroom partitions on account of its durability and ease of maintenance. Metals accounted for 60.9% of the market share in 2016 and are expected to lose market share to non-metals. Availability of products in various designs and thickness along with their lightweight is expected to result in increasing the growth of the non-metal significantly over the projected period.

Non-metal is projected to grow at a CAGR 5.8% over the forecast period, owing to its scratch proof properties and 59 times greater resistance to impacts as compared to metal bathroom panels. In general, bathroom surfaces in places such as educational institutes, amusement parks, and highways are exposed to graffiti in U.S, hence, dividers commonly need to be cleaned off. HDPE’s solid formulation throughout helps to remove graffiti easily with a non-abrasive cleaner without troubling the glossy finish of the panel.

Toilet partitions accounted for 86.5% of the market share in 2016 and are expected to continue their dominance over the projected period on account of increasing number of restroom installations in commercial spaces. Urinal screens are expected to witness growth over the projected period on account of growing number of urinals in public places.

Shower partitions, along with providing privacy and security also help in adding to the overall aesthetics of the bathroom. Showers with doors or screens are mostly preferred in U.S.

Competitive Landscape

The market is marked by the presence of organized and unorganized players active in the market. To that end, Scranton Product, Bradley Corporation, Ampco Products, LLC., Hadrian Inc, Marlite Inc., General Partitions Mfg. Corp., Knickerbocker Partition Corp, Tex-Lam Manufacturing, and Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. are some of the key vendors in the market. Over the coming years, players are expected to focus on increasing the portfolio of non-metal bathroom partition products.